JP2776654B2 - Line switching method for video conference system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a line switching system in a video conference system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a line switching system in a conventional video conference system will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 21 denotes a master station, and the master station 21 and a plurality of slave stations 22a to 22a.
Reference numeral 22d is connected by communication lines a, b, and c capable of bidirectional communication. 23 is a line switching unit, 24 is a voice switching unit, 2
5, 25a are image transmission units, 26 and 26a are audio transmission units, 27 and 27a are control units, 28 is a speech request unit, 2
9 is a switch type control unit, 30 and 30a are cameras, 3
1, 31a is a television monitor, 32, 32a are microphones, 3
Reference numerals 3 and 33a denote speakers.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the switching system control unit 2 shown in FIG.
9 is an explanatory diagram provided for explaining the operation of No. 9; FIG.

Next, the operation of the line switching system in the video conference system shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. First, when one of the slave stations 2a to 2d makes a speech request in the speech request unit 28, the communication line c and the master station 2
1 is transmitted to the switch control unit 29 (FIG. 4) of the main station 21 via the first control unit 27. This switch type control unit 2
9 indicates that there was a request to speak with an LED, and the main station 2
In the case of 1, a station which has made a speech request can be selected. Here, the slave stations 1-4 in FIG. 4 are the slave stations 22a-2 in FIG.
2d. Then, for example, the selected slave station 22
The image a is transmitted to the image transmission device unit 25 of the main station 21 by the line switching unit 23 of the main station 21 via the communication line a, and to the image transmission device unit by another slave station via the communication line a. It is transmitted and output to a separate television monitor. Next, for example, the selected voice of the slave station 22a is transmitted to the voice transmission unit 26 of the main station 21 by the voice switching unit 24 of the main station 21 via the communication line b and transmitted to the speaker 33 of the main station 21. In addition to being output, the voice is mixed with the voice from the main station 21 by the voice switching unit 24 of the main station 21, transmitted to the voice transmission device unit by another slave station via the communication line b, separated and output to the speaker. You.

[0005]

In the above-described line switching system of the conventional video conference system, the line switching control is performed by the switch system control unit, so that a failure due to mechanical wear is likely to occur. When selecting a station, there is a problem that an incorrect station may be selected because the screen of the selected station is not viewed. Also,
When selecting any of the slave stations, the master station only looks at the screen of the speaking station of the slave station, so if a failure occurs in a station other than the speaking station of the master station and the slave station, the conference will continue without knowing There was such a problem.

[0006]

A line switching system in a video conference system according to the present invention is a video conference system in which a conference is held between one master station and a plurality of slave stations. A communication line, a control unit for bidirectionally transmitting control data of the master station and the slave station, a line switching unit for switching the line, and a screen synthesis unit for synthesizing a plurality of images from the slave station into one screen. If, copy the screen synthesized by the image synthesizing section on a television monitor, there follow
When a statement request is received from the station, the statement in the composite screen
Outputs a request message on the screen of the requested station
A line control unit having a function of performing line switching control by a touch sensor is provided, and by operating the touch sensor, a slave station that performs a video conference with the master station can be selected. Also, the line switching system of the video conference system according to another invention of the present invention is such that in the above-mentioned system, the name of the slave station is displayed on the monitor of the line controller by control data from the controller of the slave station. is there.

[0007]

According to the present invention, images from a plurality of slave stations are transmitted to an image synthesizing section via an image transmitting apparatus and a communication line of the slave station and a line switching section and an image transmitting apparatus of the master station. The screens of multiple slave stations are combined into one screen and displayed on the screen of the line controller with the touch sensor function. The master station only selects and touches the station to be selected on the combined screen. You can choose.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a line switching system of a video conference system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a master station, and the master station 1 and a plurality of slave stations 2a.
.About.2d are connected by communication lines a, b, c capable of bidirectional communication. 3 is a line switching unit for switching lines, 4 is an audio switching unit, 5 and 5a are image transmission units, 6 and 6a are audio transmission units, and 7 and 7a are two-way control data for the master station and the slave station. A control unit for transmitting, 8 is a speech requesting unit, 10, 10
a is a camera, 11, 11a are TV monitors, 12, 12
a is a microphone, 13 and 13a are speakers, 14 is a screen synthesizing unit for synthesizing a plurality of images from slave stations into one screen, 9 is a picture synthesized by the screen synthesizing unit 14 and displayed on a television monitor, and A line control unit having a function of performing switching control by a touch sensor. The line control unit includes a touch sensor unit, a monitor unit, and a control unit, and is configured to switch lines by operating the touch sensor unit. Then, the station name of the slave station is displayed on the monitor of the line controller 9 according to the control data from the controller of the slave station.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the operation of the line controller 9 in FIG.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the image and sound of the main station 1
The images are transmitted to the plurality of slave stations 2a to 2d participating in the conference via the communication lines a and b, and the respective image transmission units 5a
(5b to 5d) and the voice transmission unit 6a (6b to 6d).
The image separated in d) is displayed on the television monitor 11a (11b-1).
1d), and the sound is output to the speakers 13a (13b to 13d). Also, the images of the slave stations 2a to 2d participating in the conference are transmitted to the image transmission device unit 5a of the slave station.
(5b to 5d) and transmitted to the screen combining unit 14 via the communication line a and the line switching unit 3 and the image transmitting unit 5 of the main station 1, and the screen combining unit 14 combines a plurality of images into one screen. Is displayed on the line control unit 9 and the slave station 2
The point names of the slave stations 2a (2b to 2d) are output on the divided screens of the line control unit 9 by the control data from the control units 7a (7b to 7d) of the a (2b to 2d). (FIG. 2 (a)). Here, FIG.
Point names 1-4 in (b) correspond to slave stations 2a-2d. Therefore, the master station 1 can constantly monitor the statuses of the plurality of slave stations 2a to 2d participating in the conference on the screen of the line control unit 9.

Next, one of the slave stations 2a to 2d
When a speech request is made from the speech request unit 8 of the slave station 2a, for example, the speech request is transmitted to the line control unit 9 of the main station 1 via the communication line c and the control unit 7 of the main station 1. . The line control unit 9 displays a “speech request” on the screen of a station that has made a speech request in a screen in which a plurality of images are combined into one screen.
Is output (FIG. 2B). Then, the master station 1 can confirm on the screen the station that has made a request for speech on the screen of the line control unit 9, and touches one of the divided screens with the message of "speak request" to respond to the request for speech. Station can be selected. The master station 1 has a plurality of slave stations 2a to 2a.
Even if you want to select any one of the stations, you can select the station you want to select without touching the other station on the screen after checking the status of the other station on the screen of the line controller 9. can do. And, for example, selected
The image of the slave station 2a is transmitted to the image transmission device unit 5 of the master station 1 by the line switching unit 3 of the master station 1 via the communication line a, and to the image transmission device unit of another slave station via the communication line a. The data is transmitted and output to separate television monitors. Also,
For example, the selected voice of the slave station 2a is transmitted to the voice transmission unit 6 of the main station 1 by the voice switching unit 4 of the main station 1 via the communication line b and output to the speaker 13 of the main station 1, The voice is mixed with the voice from the main station 1 by the voice switching unit 4 of the main station 1, transmitted to the voice transmission unit by another slave station via the communication line b, separated and output to the speaker.

Although the above embodiment has been described by taking as an example the case where images and sounds are transmitted between the master station and the slave stations via their respective communication lines, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, images and sounds can be multiplexed between the master station and the slave stations and transmitted bidirectionally.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, images from a plurality of slave stations are transmitted to the image synthesizing section via the image transmission apparatus and communication line of the slave station and the line switching section of the master station and the image transmission apparatus. The image combining unit combines the screens of a plurality of slave stations into one screen, transfers the screen onto the screen of the line control unit having a touch sensor function, and the master station selects the station to be selected from the combined screen. And you can choose just by touching. The master station can proceed with the conference while grasping the conference state of all the slave stations during the conference, and has an effect that a quick response can be taken even when a failure occurs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a line switching system of a video conference system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of a line control unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a line switching system of a conventional video conference system.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of a switch control unit in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 master station 2a to 2d slave station 3 line switching unit 4 audio switching unit 5, 5a image transmission unit 6, 6a audio transmission unit 7, 7a control unit 8 utterance request unit 9 line control unit 10, 10a camera 11, 11a TV Monitor 12, 12a Microphone 13, 13a Speaker 14 Image synthesis unit

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-52371 (JP, A) JP-A-2-265346 (JP, A) JP-A-3-7487 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04M 3/56 H04N 5/222 H04N 7/15

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A video conference system for holding a conference between one master station and a plurality of slave stations, wherein a communication line connecting the master station and the slave stations, and control data of the master station and the slave stations are transmitted bidirectionally. And a line switching unit for switching lines, a screen combining unit for combining a plurality of images from the slave stations into one screen, and a screen combined by the screen combining unit on a television monitor. Copy , remarks from a slave
When a request is received, the
A line control unit having a function of outputting a message of a request for speech on the screen of the station that has performed the switching of the line by a touch sensor, and operating the touch sensor to perform a video conference with the master station. A line switching system for a video conference system, wherein 2. The line switching system according to claim 1, wherein the location name of the slave station is displayed on a monitor of the line control unit by control data from the control unit of the slave station. Line switching system for the video conferencing system.